Wikipedia says: Recorded and released in 1971, “Blue” is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. Exploring the various facets of relationships from infatuation on “A Case of You” to insecurity on “This Flight Tonight”, the songs feature simple accompaniments on piano, guitar and Appalachian dulcimer. The album peaked at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and number 15 on the Blllboard 200. Today, Blue is generally regarded by music critics as one of the greatest albums of all time; Mitchell’s songwriting and compositions are frequent areas of praise. In January 2000, The New York Times chose Blue as one of the 25 albums that represented “turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century popular music”. In 2012, Blue was rated the 30th best album ever made in Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, the highest entry by a female artist.
“My Old Man” is thought to have been inspired by Joni’s relationship with Graham Nash. Interestingly, the song writers are listed as someone other than Joni at wiki, but badfinger20 pointed out that Joni is the songwriter at her website, so until someone proves it to me otherwise, Joni is the songwriter.
The sentimental connections to this song go back to my first serious boyfriend, in 1976. We were both free spirits and this song fit our relationship very well.
My old man he’s a singer in the park
He’s a walker in the rain
He’s a dancer in the dark
We don’t need no piece of paper from the city hall
Keeping us tied and true no, my old man
Keeping away my blues
He’s my sunshine in the morning
He’s my fireworks at the end of the day
He’s the warmest chord I ever heard
Play that warm chord, play and stay baby
We don’t need no piece of paper from the city hall
Keeping us tied and true, my old man
Keeping away my blues
But when he’s gone
Me and them lonesome blues collide
The bed’s too big
The frying pan’s too wide
Then he comes home
And he takes me in his loving arms
And he tells me all his troubles
And he tells me all my charms
We don’t need no piece of paper from the city hall
Keeping us tied and true no, my old man
Keeping away my blues
But when he’s gone
Me and them lonesome blues collide
The bed’s too big
The frying pan’s too wide
My old man he’s a singer in the park
He’s a walker in the rain
He’s a dancer in the dark
We don’t need no piece of paper from the city hall
Keeping us tied and true no, my old man
Keeping away my lonesome blues
Tao Talk 
I wonder if they meant another song called My Old Man?… I found this
http://jonimitchell.com/music/song.cfm?id=159
I’ve ran into that also.
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Now that is interesting. I would trust Joni’s site over wiki any day. It’s the same song for sure…
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Did you see 33 other artists have covered this song??? Amazing.
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No I didn’t… It would be intimidating to cover her songs because they are so….her…you know?
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I updated my post and put her in as the songwriter. Thank you for going the extra mile on this :)
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I wasn’t trying to point out anything wrong… but when you mentioned it in the post…I got curious. I thought…that sounded to much like she wrote it.
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I am very appreciative of you doing research on it. Please consider that door always open!
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Okidoki…. same with you.
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I listened to the first two Joni Mitchell albums this morning….
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Song to a Seagull and Clouds? I have the box set.
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Yes Song To A Seagull and Clouds- she is the latest artist I am starting the from the beginning to the end- listening experience to.
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<3 That is awesome. I'll listen along also and get refreshed on them.
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Just listened to Ladies of the Canyon- she is getting better with each new album!
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I love that song. Isn’t Little Green on there also?
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That is on Blue.
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I listed to Hank Williams 40 greatest hits tonight and am posting on it tomorrow :)
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